Abelia plant named ‘MINDUO1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Abelia  plant named ‘Minduo1’, characterized by its compact plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; relatively large inflorescences; pale yellow and purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Abelia×grandiflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MINDUO1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia plant, botanically known as Abelia×grandiflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Minduo1’.

The new Abelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and freely flowering Abelia plants with attractive flower coloration.

The new Abelia plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2005 of Abelia×grandiflora ‘Minfest’, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with an unknown selection of Abelia×grandiflora, not patented. The new Abelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in July, 2007 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new Abelia plant by semi-hardwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France since October, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Abelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Abelia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Minduo1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Minduo1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia plant:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large inflorescences.     -   5. Pale yellow and purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Minfest’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Abelia differ primarily from plants of ‘Minfest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Abelia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Minfest’.     -   2. Plants of the new Abelia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Minfest’.     -   3. Plants of the new Abelia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Minfest’.     -   4. Plants of the new Abelia and ‘Minfest’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘Minfest’ have variegated leaves.     -   5. Plants of the new Abelia and ‘Minfest’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Minfest’ have lilac pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of Abelia×grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Abelia differ from plants of ‘Edward Goucher’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Abelia are more compact than plants of         ‘Edward Goucher’.     -   2. Plants of the new Abelia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Edward Goucher’.     -   3. Plants of the new Abelia are more densely foliated and         bushier than plants of ‘Edward Goucher’.     -   4. Plants of the new Abelia have smaller and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Edward Goucher’.     -   5. Plants of the new Abelia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Edward Goucher’.     -   6. Plants of the new Abelia and ‘Edward Goucher’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Edward Goucher’ have lilac         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Abelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Abelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Minduo1’ grown in an container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Minduo1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-liter containers during the spring and summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Abelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 19° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were five years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Abelia×grandiflora ‘Minduo1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Abelia×grandiflora ‘Minfest’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of             Abelia×grandiflora, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 40 days at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; low density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact and             rounded plant habit; moderate vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, dense and bushy             growth habit with about 80 lateral branches develop per             plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 60 cm to 80 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 100 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 60 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to arching outwardly.         -   Texture, developing.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, fully developed.—Woody.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 184A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 197C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 141C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138A; venation, close to 138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to             138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single funnelform flowers             arranged on terminal and axillary panicles; freely flowering             habit with about 50 flowers developing per lateral branch;             flower face mostly outwardly.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 28.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrant, spicy.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about two weeks on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower continuously from June to September in France.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 9D and 77A.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five fused petals arranged             in a single whorl. Lobe length: About 5 mm. Lobe width:             About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 10C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 10D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 10D; throat, close to 10D and 77A; nectar             guides, close to 23B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             10D; tube, close to 10D and 77C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite; calyx             cruciform. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:             Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:. Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N34C. Color,             fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N34C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 20.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Angle: About 30° from lateral branch. Color: Close to 165B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Angle: Mostly upright. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong to             elliptical. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Stigma shape:             Globular. Stigma color: Close to 9D. Style length: About             2.1 cm. Style color: Close to 9D. Ovary color: Close to             155A. Seeds: Length: About 0.6 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm.             Color, immature: Green tinged with red. Color, mature:             Brown. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Abelia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and to     tolerate temperatures ranging from −15° C. to 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Abelia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Abelia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Abelia plant named ‘Minduo1’ as illustrated and described. 